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HomeFull-Day Elena Town Tour In Veliko Tarnovo
Description
Sign up for this tour and visit the small Renaissance town of Elena known for its rich Ottoman history and learn about its centuries-old architecture and its struggle for liberation from Turkish slavery. Taste the dried cured meat produced only here - a famous delicacy known all around Bulgaria. Climb a stone fortress to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city and taste regional wines at a local winery.
Highlights
- Visit the stunning Kaleto Park and the Blessed Virgin Church
- Stroll through Daskalolivnitsa, the first Bulgarian pedagogical school
- Visit Popnikol House, which houses the Museum of Paleontology
- Taste 3 to 5 different types of wine at a local winery
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Town of Elena tour in Veliko Tarnovo expand_more
- Start your tour with your Veliko Tarnovo tour guide by visiting the monument of a rebel and military commander, Vulcan. He is one of the legendary figures of Bulgarian history.
- Next, head to a square where most festivals and concerts take place, and in the middle, there is the Freedom Monument which symbolises the involvement of the town of Elena in the fight against Turkish slavery.
- Visit the Kaleto Park and climb a stone fortress to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
- From there, walk to the Blessed Virgin Church, which was erected on the foundation of an old chapel with the help of Hajji Yurdan Beard, a local revivalist. Also, visit the Razuhanov Houses, five charming houses build under one roof at the end of the 18th century by Hadji Dimitar Razsukanov for his sons.
- Head to the Popnikol House, which houses the Museum of Paleontology. A study based at Sofia University.
- Take a walk through the narrow streets to visit the architectural and historical complex, Daskalolivnitsata (Teacher’s school). This is the first Bulgarian pedagogical school and was named by a teacher Petko Slaveikov.
- After strolling through Daskalolivnitsa, make your way to the Clock Tower. Its location was chosen to hear its sound from anywhere in the city, and it is one of the first clock towers in the country.
- Return to the centre for an afternoon coffee in the sand and refreshing Aronia juice (the Aronia juice and wine are traditional in the area), or head towards a local winery to taste 3 or 5 different wines - a white, a rose and a red - accompanied by the famous Elena delicacies.
- At the chateau, talk with a winemaker or the winery owners and discuss the winery's history, the past, and the legend about Kera Tamara and Ivan Alexander, a Bulgarian nobility from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
What's Included
- Wine tasting of 3 wines
- Transportation in a minivan
- Pick-up & drop-off from/to accommodation
- English-speaking Veliko Tarnovo tour guide
- VAT & local taxes
What's Excluded
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Extras and incidentals
- Tips
Know before you go
- Optional: Horse riding starts at 10 Euros.
- Vulcan Voivod is one of the most legendary names in history and his personality is the object of many beliefs and traditions wandering around the Bulgarian lands, and his exact fate is shrouded in mystery.
- The study based at Sofia University is called Kliment Ohridski and it contains some of the fossils and minerals discovered by the students of the university during their study practice in the town of Elena, as well as other interesting exhibits.
- The name of the first Bulgarian pedagogical school means an analogy with candlesticks, where candles are cast in the Daskalolivnitsa the "candles" were cast.
- In the same complex of Daskalolivntsa, Kambur Inn is located. It bears the name of its owner, Stoyan Kambura, who was a part of the Elena Revolutionary Committee. It is a curious fact that initially this inn was located in the village of Yovkovtsi, but when the Yovkovtsi dam was built, the building was dismantled and moved to the yard of Daskalolivnitsa. There is currently an ethnographic exposition in the inn. In the complex, you can also visit the temple of St. Nikola, which hosts the exhibition “Renaissance Art at the Beginning of the 19th Century - Mural, Icon, and Carving”. This is the oldest temple in the Elena Balkan. It was built during the formation of Elena as a settlement. The first written document about it dates back to 1518. Legends say that many ancient manuscripts written on parchment were stored there. Here is the Temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin which is still in effect. It was originally a wooden chapel, but after a while, it became too small for the inhabitants of Elena and they decided to rebuild it by destroying the old kale and using its stones. This was also done to prevent the Turkish garrison from being housed in the fortress.
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.Price Details
| Standard | |
| 1 To 4 | USD 86.5 Per Person |
This is a group tour | |
Starting From
see details
USD 86.5 / person